Many question the wisdom of Kevin Magnussen moving from Renault to Haas – ditching a works team for an upstart outfit – but the Dane believes he has already found a more suitable outfit from which he can ply his trade in Formula 1.
Speaking to BT newspaper, Magnussen revealed, “Haas feels like a completely different team to McLaren and Renault. I think it’s a much better fit for me.”
Magnussen, who raced for McLaren in 2014 and was the team’s 2015 test driver before departing and joining Renault in 2016. For Renault, believes it was merely a case of bad luck and not the best of timing when he drove for the grandee teams “which were messy in terms of management and team leadership.”
He also admitted having high expectations when he joined Renault and leading their return to the sport as a works team. I knew it would be not be an easy season, after the late acquisition of Lotus. But inevitably you dream and of course I did of podiums. But I think my dreams were too big.”
“With Haas it is much easier in that respect: Gunther Steiner is the team principal and Gene Haas the team owner. Both are real racers that are in Formula 1 because they love the sport, not because they want to make money or a name for themselves. That suits me just fine because I’m also like that. ”
Magnussen is also looking forward to less sponsor commitments, that come with the smaller American team, which he admits “distracts from the racing” and looks forward “to go back to training during my time off.”
“So I’m happy with how things are going at Haas,” added Magnussen.